Hydraulic Battery Preheating in Tractors Using Waste Heat
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing agricultural machines with battery-electric energy storage systems require complex cooling circuits for maintaining optimal operating temperatures, which are inefficient and costly in terms of design and operation.
Innovation Solution
A hydraulically operated preheating system is integrated with the machine's hydraulic system to utilize power losses for heating the battery-electric energy storage device, using pressurized hydraulic oil to achieve faster heating and simplify the design.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If a separate cooling circuit is provided for the battery-electric energy storage system, then the operating temperature range can be maintained, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the battery preheating function with the existing hydraulic system of the agricultural machine. The hydraulic oil, which naturally heats up during operation due to power losses, is used to preheat the battery through a heat exchanger, eliminating the need for a separate dedicated heating system and reducing overall system complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent converts the power losses in the hydraulic system (which are normally wasted energy) into a useful heating source for the battery. By utilizing the heat generated from hydraulic pressure losses, leakage losses, and throttling processes, the system turns harmful energy dissipation into a beneficial preheating function.
2Temperature
If waste heat from the combustion engine is used to preheat the energy storage system, then heating can be achieved, but the heating speed is insufficient at low ambient temperatures
Solution Approach 1:
The patent utilizes the hydraulic system's pressurized fluid to rapidly transfer heat to the battery. The hydraulic oil, circulating under pressure through the system, provides much faster heat transfer compared to engine coolant, enabling the battery to reach operating temperature quickly even in cold ambient conditions.
3Productivity
If the hydraulic system's power losses are utilized for preheating, then the preheating efficiency increases, but additional system components are required
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses the hydraulic oil that already circulates through the machine's existing hydraulic system to provide heating. The same hydraulic fluid that powers the machine's hydraulic components also serves as the heat transfer medium for battery preheating, requiring only a heat exchanger connection and eliminating the need for separate pumps, reservoirs, or control systems.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The system enables faster and more efficient preheating of the battery-electric energy storage device to its optimal operating temperature range, reducing service life degradation and operational complexity.
Implementation Method 1
a hydraulically operated preheating system for heating the battery-electric energy storage device... utilizes the existing hydraulic system of the machine and the pressurized hydraulic oil within it, which heats up during operation
Implementation Method 2
The power losses of the machine's hydraulic system are converted into heat, which is largely absorbed by the hydraulic fluid. These power losses include pressure losses due to pipe friction and flow deflections, leakage losses, and losses due to throttling processes
Data Source
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AI summary
The present invention relates to an agricultural machine (1), in particular a tractor (2), comprising at least one drive unit (3, 4), a hydraulic system (5) for operating drive and/or working units of the machine (1) and/or an adapted implement, and a battery-electric energy storage device (9) associated with the machine (1), wherein the energy storage device (9) is associated with a hydraulically operated preheating system (11) for heating the battery-electric energy storage device (9), which is designed for connection to the hydraulic system (5) of the machine (1).